[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

CLIMBING SANTO PEAK 187

which one of the guides had brought from the village.
Before leaving, one of my boys carefully collected
all the peelings of my food, and threw them into
the river, so that I might not be poisoned by them,
he said. A last steep climb ended the day’s exer-
tions, and we entered the village Where we were to
sleep. While the guides bragged to the men of
their feats, the women brought us food and drink,
and I had a chance to rest and look about me.

I was struck by the great number of women and
the very small number of men in this place; after a
while I found out the reason, which was that ten of
the men had been kidnapped by a Frenchman While
on their way to a plantation on the Segond Channel,
Where they meant to work a few days. The women
are now deprived of their husbands for at least three
years, unless they find men in some other village. If
five of the ten ever return, it will be a good average,

‘ and it is more than likely that they will find a deserted
and ruined village if they do come back.

This is one of many illustrations of how the
present recruiting system and the laxity of the French
authorities combine to ruin the native population. (I
have since heard that by request of the British
authorities these men were brought back, but only
after about nine months had passed, and without
receiving any compensation. Most kidnapping cases
never come to the ears of the authorities at all.)

As our expedition was nearly at an end, and I had
novreason to economize my provisions, I gave some
to the villagers, and the women especially who had